Sunway University, Malaysia and Huizhou University, Guangdong, China signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish the Research Centre in Information Technology and International Collaborative Education. The Sunway University delegation was led by Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor. Accompanying Professor Wilkinson were Professor Pua Eng Chong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Associate Professor Dr Lau Sian Lun Associate Dean, School of Science and Technology and Head, Department of Computing and Information Systems; and Dr Chong Kok Boon, Ambassador, Academic and Research Partnerships (Asia).
This collaboration started with a visit from Sunway University to Huizhou in 2017. It was followed up with a visit of the Huizhou University delegation early in 2018 to Sunway to decide on the details of the partnership. After extensive work in finalising the possible collaboration, both institutions agreed on the establishment of a joint research centre that would focus on research collaboration, staff and student exchanges, post-graduate supervision, with the possibility of the inclusion of other areas of collaboration in the future.
Professor Peng Yonghong, President and General Secretary of Huizhou University, who welcomed the Sunway University delegation, emphasised on the importance of this collaboration. This academic collaboration between Chinese and Malaysian institutions is strategic as it will contribute to various international economic initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). The research centre will be a platform to connect talent from Malaysia as well as South East Asia to the Greater Bay Area. The initiatives and efforts from both institutions will open up new opportunities for the advancement of both research and industry, particularly in the area of digital technology and industry revolution 4.0.
Other representatives from Huizhou University who attended and witnessed the signing ceremony included Professor Xu Wanhong, Vice President (Research); Professor Liu Guodong, Vice President (Academic); Professor Cai Zhaoquan, Director of Research; Lin Hong, Director of International Affairs; Professor Peng Gang, Dean, School of Information Science and Technology; and Chen Lu, General Secretary, School of Information Science and Technology.